Dakota Recreation Report: June 15, 2020

Outdoor notes:

*The lowest three-quarters mile of Channel A as it enters Devils Lake is closed to boats and shore-fishing, the area by U.S. Highway 2 and train bridges, due to road construction.

*Remember to get current boat registrations, keep social distancing and boating safety requirements for life jackets, etc.

*State parks are open with camping reservations available online at (parkrec.nd.gov).

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, June 9: 1,449.62 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,449.81 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,841.8 MSL; 27,900 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Try casting crankbaits or slip bobbers and leeches for walleye but look for a switch to spinners and leeches or nightcrawlers starting in about 15 feet as water temperatures continue to warm. West side of the lake seems more consistent than east side because of warmer water. Try Pelican Lake, New Mil or Howard’s bays. Use caution on Pelican, however, with shallow water and obstructions.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fair but inconsistent walleye success, perhaps in part due to wind and weather fronts.

*Devils Lake, West Bay Resort, Minnewaukan: Continued improving walleye success as water temperatures with good white bass activity. Work shallow.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair to good walleye success. Try slip bobbers in deeper water or work shallow with crankbaits. Also try spinners with leeches or nightcrawlers, starting about 10 feet and working out.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Increasing angler activity on area lakes.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Continued activity throughout area lakes, including some lakes with nice-sized perch, crappie and walleye.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Good shore success from the Jamestown River and Reservoir. Look for some pike and crappie activity.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Good crappie success from docks and along the shoreline, including the creek and bridges, but look for it to slow after the spawn. Fair walleye around Sibley Bridge and the Crossing.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Average at best pike success with good panfish activity for a variety of species. Weed growth is progressing so look for slower shore success and improving boat activity.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Fair walleye success on the east end of Lake Sakakawea. Try shallow in the bays or around 7 Sisters with a variety of presentations. Best success remains with minnows but some activity starting on nightcrawlers. No new reports from Lake Audubon.

*Lake Sakakawea, Indian Hills Resort, Garrison: Last weekend’s wind and weather mixed up walleye success. Try pitching jigs with minnows in deeper water after last weekend’s weather. Look for a move back to shallower water with stable weather.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River improving for walleye. Try jigs and minnows or Lindy rigs and plastics or nightcrawlers throughout much of the area down river from the dam. Look for an occasional catfish from the chutes from boats. Still somewhat slow from shore off the rocks at night. Improving walleye success from Lake Sakakawea. Try jigging along the north shore in shallow water or spinners and nightcrawlers in 9 to 20 feet farther west of Pick City around Beulah or Beaver bays.

Paddle craft river elevation & flows:

*James River, Kensal: River stage, 3.07 feet; streamflow, 56 CFS.

*Pembina River, Walhalla: River stage, 3.22 feet; streamflow, 478 CFS.

*Red River, Grand Forks: River stage, 18.41 feet; streamflow, 6,340 CFS.

*Sheyenne River, Warwick: River stage, 4.66 feet; streamflow, 570 CFS.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

*N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121 or (701) 328-9921.